You need not always buy something expensive to express your love (Image courtesy: all-images.org)
With Valentine’s Day just around the bend, pressure is mounting to find a unique yet budget-friendly gift idea for your loved one. Although we are bombarded with advertisements that want us to believe that splurging money on your honey is the best way to go, there are so many creative and inexpensive ways to sweep your special ones off their feet.
Sure routine gifts like flowers and candy will get you a nod of approval, but putting a new spin on traditional favourites will help score brownie points. Here’s a list of ideas that can make this year’s Valentine’s Day a lot of fun for you and your sweetheart:
For Him:
1) Best Guy in The World Certificate: Who doesn’t like being appreciated once in a while? This Valentine’s Day, think about all of the qualities you admire about your guy and write down a few lines about what makes him so special. You can make your own certificate using Microsoft Word or Publisher and seal it with a red lipstick kiss to make it official once it’s printed. If certificates aren’t your thing, you can make a Best Guy ribbon using his favourite colours.
2) The Fake Chocolate Box: Imagine the surprise when your boyfriend opens a box of chocolates and finds money instead. All you need to do is get a box, eat the chocolates and fill the empty spaces with different types of money: loonies, toonies and maybe some 5 or 10 dollar bills. It’s a fun and creative gift and you may even be forgiven for finishing all the chocolates.
Map hearts are a quirky gift for your Valentine (Image courtesy: the-anthology.com)
3) Map Heart: If you have an old map lying around the house, cut a heart around a location that means a lot to the both of you. It could be a place you have visited together or a location you wish to go to someday. You can make it cheesy if you like by sticking a small note underneath that says ‘you mean the world to me’.
4) Thoughtful Coupons: You can make coupons for different sorts of things like an action movie night, a date at his favourite sports bar or even sewing a button back on. You can create these coupons using square cardboard pieces or thick paper and also use some colours or drawings to make them look attractive.
Pic in a Jar is great for those who like vintage gifts (Image courtesy: pincookie.com)
5) Pic in a Jar: For guys who like having vintage pictures around the house, the Pic in a Jar is an ideal gift. Laminate a photo (black and white photographs work better) or use transparent tape to cover the picture. Then put the picture inside a jar and fill it with olive oil. You can also put in some dried flowers (lavender looks pretty) if you wish. Seal the jar tight and voila! You have a gift with an antique touch.
For Her:
1) Home cooked meal: Even if it’s pasta with some ready-made sauce, taking the effort to cook a meal will surely impress your girlfriend. If you’re confused about what to make, there are lots of easy recipes on the internet you can use to woo your love. Get some candles burning and listen to some smooth jazz while you pour her some wine.
2) Foot Massage Coupons: After a long, tiring day and especially during the winter, foot massages are a great treat. Have a couple of handmade coupons ready so she can use them on a day she really needs it. If you want to go the extra mile (and have steady hands), you can even offer to paint her nails after. She’ll definitely be pleased.
3) Movie Night Basket: Fill a mini picnic basket (even a small box would do) with things that go well with a movie night: popcorn, candy, a movie you both like and some tissues in case the film you’re planning on watching is an absolute tear-jerker.
Handwritten letters may be a thing of the past but they are quite romantic (Image courtesy: yourstoryclub.com)
4) Surprise mail: Everyone loves getting letters although very few admit it. Surprise your girlfriend with enveloped letters that get delivered to her doorstep for a week, starting Valentine’s Day. Instead of posting them, you could drop them off yourself to ensure she gets it each day.
5) Memory Box: Type out your most memorable experiences together along with ways in which you’ve inspired and encouraged each other. Decorate a shoe box and put these typed memories in. If you like, you can also add photographs, tickets to your first movie or other memorabilia. This simple gift will remind your loved one of the memories you’ve made and hopefully look forward to making new ones with you.
You don’t need expensive Valentine’s Day presents to show someone you care for them. Creativity and a personal touch are all it takes to make a gift truly special.
Fresh Print magazine wishes everyone a lovely Valentine’s Day. If you have any DIY gift ideas for your special ones, don’t forget to share them with us in the comments section below or by tweeting @FreshPrintMag.
